Antiskid device



Nov. 3, 1936- LE ROY DICK Y 2,059,211

v ANTISKID DEVICE Filed Dec. s, 1953 till } weight Patented vNov. 3 1936PATENT orrlcs ANTISKID DEVICE Le Roy 1. Dick, Cleveland, Ohio, asslgnorto The Cleveland Chain & Manufacturing Company, Garfield Heights, Ohio,a. corporation o1! 0M0 Appflcation December 6, 1933, Serial No. ithlll.11 Claims.

This invention, as indicated, relates to an antiskid device of the typegenerally known as an emergency tire chain. More particularly, itcomprises a device adapted to be placed upon an automobile tire withanti-skid members extending over the tread thereof and. securing meansextending over the ielloe of the wheel and firmly holding the anti-skiddevice in place.

v Devices of this character have heretofore bee produced, but at timeshave been found to be subject to displacement due to the centrifugalforce exerted on a heavier portion of the device so as to move suchheavier portion outwardly and disturb the original adjustment of theantiskid device relatively to the tread. In some instances, it has beensought to avoid the effects of centrifugal force upon a device of thischaracter by making the clamp and buckle of nearly the same weight,whereby centrifugal force will not tend to advance either of themoutwardly on the wheel to any materiel extent. There are disadvantagesin attempting to make the buckle or means for fastening the free end ofthe strap to the supporting plate for the anti-skid device of equalweight to the clamping or fixed end of the strap for supporting thestructure, inasmuch as the buckle involves more mechanical parts andthese would have to be reduced beyond the limits of safety to make themof equal weight with the other end of the device, orthe other end wouldhave to be unduly thickened to bring the weight up to the desired weightof the buckle structure.

e present invention has in view therefore the idea oi so securing thedevice to the tire that the some will be irlctionally held and willresist all edorts oi centrifugal force to dislodge the same irrespectiveoi the fact that the buckle portion oi' the device may be oiconsiderably greater than that of the clamping cud; of the del permitsmanufacturing of the device vice.

to he ried on in the normal mannerwherein hired end oi the strap or ofmaking the clampim portion oi the device at the-hired end of the strapextra heavy to approximate the weight of the huchle. Each oi. theseparts may he made of any tion.

(Cl. 152--M) required design to fulfil the proper mechanical functionsof the same and involve no alterations or increase or diminution of theparts for the purpose of properly centering the device upon the tire andmaintaining it there.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an anti-skiddevice of the type known as an emergency chain and having structuralcharacteristics which tend to prevent sideslip thereof when applied tothe tire.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-skid device fortires adapted to fit smoothly against the outer surface oi the tire andadjacent parts and at the some time to frictionally engage the tire atpoints below the point of greatest transverse diameter in such manner asto prevent displacement or the device from its original position ofadjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-skid device havingan improved type of strap securing and fastening means whereby easyengagement oi the strap with the tire and wheel may be had and securelocking of the same may be obtained without injury to the long life ofthe structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the racter setiorth which will be adapted for quantity production and at the same timeprovide structural features which are superior to those of this typegenerally available to the public and which will remain free ofmechanical dimculty irrespective oi the length oi time during which theymay he inuse.

Another object oi the invention is to provide an improved securingdevice for an emergency the chain which by its structure will have adouble locking effect through the movement of one of the parts past deadcenter and yet adept-' ed for release without unusual efiort. 7

Another object of the-invention is to provide means for securing an anticlsid device to a wheel in such manner that the greater the pull uponthe device, the greater the gripping eilect upon the free end ofthesecuriug member as well as the increase oi snuhhing action adaptedfor re rusting strains of the greatest magnitude.

Qther and ituther objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe ioilowing: dose-rip To the accomplishment oi foregoing and relatedends, said invention, then, consists oi the means herelnai'ter fullydesorihed and lliftltitlih larly pointed out in the claims, the annexeddraw ing and the following description setting iorth iu detail certainstructures hodylng the inveutiou such disclosed means constituting,however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle ofthe invention may be used.

. In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showingan anti-skid device embodying the principles of the invention, as seenin elevation placed over a tire seen partly in section;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure l, asviewed from the plane indicated by the line 2--2, seen in Figure 1, andshowing the fixed end of the securing strap;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, as viewed from a plane indicatedby the line 33, shown in Figure 1, showing the free end of the securingstrap and the clamping device therefor;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, taken alongthe line 4-4, shown in Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,and showing the details of securing the fixed end of the strap;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, taken alongthe line 5-5, shown in Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows,and showing the free end of the strap and the clamping device therefor;and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing a modified form ofsupporting plate embodying the principles of the invention.

As' will clearly appear from Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing, theanti-skid device I is applied about the outer portion of a tire 2 with asecuring member in the form of a strap 3 engaged beneath the wheel rimand felloe 4 intermediate the spokes 5. The anti-skid device may takevarious forms, but preferably comprises a pair of plates 6, 1, havingapertures 8 adjacent the ends thereof through which are engaged theterminal links 9 of respective pairs of cross chains H. In each of theplates the inner upper margin of the plate adjacent the apertures 8 isstruck upwardly to provide a securing loop or eye l2 over \vhich'theinwardly bent ends 13 of the terminal links 9 are engaged in a manner tohave free pivotal movement and be held out of direct contact with theadjacent side wall of the tire.

Each of the plates is made of a length to space the cross chains asuitable distance apart over the tire tread, which may be any desireddistance, but, as shown, is approximately four inches between centers ofthe cross chain when at the central point of the upstanding loops.

The plates, as has been indicated, are intended to'bear against the sidewalls of the tire on opposite sides thereof at a point beneath the pointof greatest transverse diameter of the tire so as to have extended areaof frictional contact with said side walls over substantially the entireinner area of the main body portion of such plates. This frictionaleffect is enhanced by offsetting the loops for the terminal links of thecross chains in an outward direction and is further assisted bydisplacing the bearing member H for the fixed end of the strapoutwardly. This bearing memher is formed by striking in an outwarddirection a section of metal l5 from the central body portion of theplate, leaving an aperture I 6 centrally of the plate, and striking alike section of metal I! outwardly from the outer edge of the plate,such section of metal I! preferably being in the form of an extension atthe lower edge of the plate so as to leave the body of the plate ofapproximately uniform contour at its lower edge. The displaced portionsof the plate which form the bearing member thus are of somewhat tubu 19.or like fastening devices.

that as the latch frame 26 is moved away from the lar form so as toprovide a substantially cylindrical bearing member for the inner end ofthe strap, one end of which is engaged through the aperture to form aloop l8 around the substantially tubular bearing member M. The end ofthe strap 3 just referred to is secured to the body portion thereofadjacent the bearing member by means of rivets Thus the inner face ofthe plate 6 will be wholly free of projections of the parts attachedthereto comprising the terminal links 9 and the strap loop i8, and theinner face may bear in direct frictional contact with the adjacent wallof the tire below the point of greatest transverse diameter of the tire.

The plate 1 for engaging the opposite ends of the cross chains l l isprovided with loops 2| outwardly offset in the same manner as the loopsl2, and said loops are engaged by the inwardly turned ends l3 of theterminal links 9 in like manner. The lower portion of-the plate 1 isformed with a central extension 22 in the plane of the main body portionof said plate, but with lateral extensions 23, which are bent upwardlyon the outer face of the structure so as to form side members of achannel of which the extension 22 is the bottom. Each of the sidemembers is formed adjacent the inner portions thereof with apertures toprovide bearings for a pin or bar 25 to the projecting ends of which alatch frame 26 of U-shaped formation is engaged through apertures formedin the free ends of such latch frame and the upsetting of the ends ofthe pin 'or bar 25 is outwardly of said terminal members in the latchframe. The latch frame is movable pivotally about the pin 25 and isprovided in its side members at a point slightly above the upper marginsof the side plates 23, 24, with apertures within which are engaged pivotextensions 21, 28, formed at the lower outer edge of a slidable clampingmember 29 which is of inverted U-shape and of a width to have freemovement between the side plates 23, 24. The opposite lower edge of theU-shaped clamping member 29 is provided with outwardly extended bearingmembers 3|, 32, which are engaged through slots 33, 34, which slots areformed through the side plates 23, 24, centrally of the portions thereofbeyond the position of the pin or bar 25, said slots incliningdownwardly from a position adjacent the upper edge of the side plates toa position slightly below the position of the apertures for the pin Theslots are preferably made of a length so plate I, it may be swungthrough an arc of slightly more than 90 before the bearing pins 3!, 32reach the outer ends of the inclined slots 33, 34.

The latch mechanism just described serves to securely hold the free endof the strap after the cross chains have been placed over the tread ofthe tire and the strap has been engaged beneath the felly of the wheelbetween the spokes thereof. The method of attaching the free end of thestrap to the securing device is to insert the free end of the trap inthe channel provided by the extension plate 22 intermediate the sideplates 23, 24, and beneath the pin or bar 25. and then turn. the freeend'of the strap so as to form a loop about said pin 25 and beneath theclamping plate 29, the rearward edge of which provides adequate space toslidingly receive the free end of the strap as it is drawn outwardlyover the body portion of the strap. The free end of the strap may bepulled to firmly draw the entire structure into tight engagement withthe tire and adjacent wheel structure, and when firmly seated inposimental areas thereof over substantially the full body portion ofsaid plates inwardly of the point of greatest transverse diameter of thetire, a strap connected with one of the plates at the central innerportion thereof, a fastening element for the free end of said strapprovided centrally of the inner portion of the other of said plates, andcross chains connected with the ends of said respective plates, all ofthe connections with said respective plates being offset outwardly ofthe plane of the inner faces of said respective plates and out ofcontact with the adjacent tire walls.

6. An anti-skid device having in combination a pair of stamped metalplates adapted to be positioned substantially parallel to each other onthe opposite outer side walls of a tire with theirtop edges in directfrictional contact with said tire walls inwardly of the point ofgreatest transverse diameter of the tire, a strap connected with oneof'the plates at the central inner portion thereof, a fastening elementfor the free end of said strap provided centrally of the inner portionof the other of said plates, and cross chains connected with the ends ofsaid respective plates, said last-named connections with said respectiveplates being offset outwardly of the plane of the inner faces of saidrespective plates and out of contact with the adjacent tire walls.

'7. An anti-skid device having in combination a pair of stamped metalplates of arcuate shape adapted to be positioned substantially parallelto each other on the opposite outer side walls of a tire with their topedges in direct frictional contact with said tire walls inwardly of thepoint of greatest transverse diameter of the tire, a strap connectedwith one of the plates at the central inner portion thereof, a fasteningelement for the free end of said strap provided centrally of the innerportion of the other of said plates, and cross chains connected-with theends of said respective plates, said last-named connections with saidrespective plates being offset outwardly of the plane of the inner facesof said respective plates and outof contact with the adjacent tirewalls.

8. An anti-skid device having in'combination apair of stamped metalplates adapted to be I positioned on opposite sides of a tire below thepoint of greatest transverse diameter with their inner faces withportions thereof in direct frictional engagement with the tire walls,anti-skid means engaged with outwardly offset elements on said platesand connecting each of said plates over the tread portion of the tire,and detachable securing means connecting said plates beneath said tire.

9. An anti-skid device comprising two long, flat, parallel plates, twochains extending between corresponding ends of the plates, each platehaving at its inner edge two upwardly bowed bar elements one of which islocated near each end, the main portions of said bar elements lying aconsiderable distance above the plane of the top of the plate to bringthe under sides thereof considerably farther away from the plane of thebottom face of the plate than the thickness of the plate, hook deviceson said chains passing underneath said barelements and across the topsthereof, whereby no part of the fastenings between the chains and theplates projects below the planes of the bottom faces of the plates, eachplate having a third bar element at about the middle of its long outeredge, and a tie member adapted to extend under the rim of a wheelattached to the last-mentioned bar elements; the construction being suchthat the plates form inward projections on the structure encircling awheel rim and tire.

10. A side plate for an anti-skid device providing a support for therespective ends of a pair of cross chains extending over a tire treadand supported at their opposite ends by another support, comprising along, fiat, plate having at its inner edge two upwardly bowed barelements one of which is located near each end, the maln portions ofsaid bar elements lying a considerable distance above the plane of thetop of the plate to bring the undersides thereof considerably fartheraway from the plane of the bottom face of the plate than the thicknessof the plate to permit hook devices on the chains to pass underneathsaid bar elements and across the tops thereof, whereby no part of thefastenings between the chains and the plate projects below the plane ofthe bottom face of the plate, said plate having a third upwardly bowedbar element at about the middle of its long outer edge, and a tie memberadapted to extend under the rim of a wheel attached to the lastmentioned bar element; the construction being such that the plate formsinward projections on the structure encircling a wheel rim and tire.

11. A side plate for emergency chain constructions comprising anelongated flat metal plate of generally arcuate shape conforming to thewheel rim curvature as seen from above, with portions displaced from theplane of the body of said plate as seen from the side edges, to provideattaching means for cross chains, and connecting elements attached tosaid displaced portions outwardly of the tire for securing theassociated parts to a wheel.

LE ROY I. DICK.

